Try the 6 second test
Apparently the average time people spend looking at a web site home page is 6.231 seconds. A very very brief attention span to get your message across. I have been reviewing a lot of sites recently as I am writing an ebook on how to write good web copy – watch this space. It is a depressing expereicne. Lack of focus, mixed messages, content which should be relegated to pages deep within the site, no clear offer, far too wordy, and so it goes on. With one site I still could not see what they were really offering after 6 minutes let alone 6 seconds. I suppose the main error is writing the site from the perspective of what you want to say rather than what will immediately inform your audience and motivate them to click on the next page. Try printing out your home page and giving people 6 seconds to look at it whilst talking though what they are seeing and thinking. Love to hear how you got on with that and the lessons you learnt.
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June 18th, 2007 at 4:18 pm
Dear Chris,
I absolutely agree to what you have said.
Just to add on it, it is extremely important to state the objective or function of the site at the home page so that you will attract the right users.
Just curious, may I know where you derive the “6.231 second” conclusion?
I remain in learning more from you,
Eddie
June 18th, 2007 at 11:44 pm
Interesting points Chris.
I visited my site and could see what it was offering within 6 seconds, but I am going to try and get half a dozen people to look at my site and see if they can see what the site is about within 6 seconds.
It’s worth adding that don’t make your homepage the only gateway into your site, so its important to optimise each page for the search engines.
June 19th, 2007 at 11:25 am
I’d also love to see a reference for the 6 seconds please.
Darren is right though, most people that come to my site don’t come through the homepage.
June 19th, 2007 at 3:33 pm
OK where does the 6 seconds come from? Simple I just typed in ‘average time spent looking at home page’ and up it came. Isn’t Google wonderful. If only you could type in what will win the 2.30 at Ascot and get such an accurate reply.